Category Pink Salmon

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Those who want to track the pink salmon returns need to just look toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the southeastern side of Vancouver Island. With our recent rain, maybe they’re on their way in bigger numbers? or is the Fish and Wildlife’s preseason predictions of 6+ million fish way off?

The pink salmon action in central Puget Sound remains very good, but those up along the east side of Whidbey Island were finding a hard time.

On the downside those fishing in the Mukilteo south to Shipwreck-Possession Point boundary have struggled for pinks as a tribal purse seine commercial fishery has been ongoing.

That area has been getting hammered by commercial nets, which weren’t there in years past, and their even fishing on the weekends. My brother has video of the commercial boats 8 at a time pulling 1,500.00 fish a set. This is complete BS! Kings, Silvers, and some Pinks. Also, I’ve heard a rumor that these are Lummi Indians that somehow the Tulalip tribe invited on down to do some netting.

Locally, catches of pinks and some coho have been good in front of Edmonds Marina; Meadow Point to West Point near Shilshole Bay; Browns Bay; Jefferson Head; Possession Bar; and Alki Point south to Tacoma. Elliott Bay is open daily for pinks starting Friday, and fishing has picked up.

Pier and beach anglers were hooking pinks at Lincoln Park off West Seattle, Golden Gardens, Elliott Bay piers, Dash Point Pier, Browns Point, Deception Pass, Point No Point, Des Moines, Redondo and west side of Whidbey Island.

It is at this location where the Pacific Salmon Commission in conjunction with the Fraser River Panel conduct weekly updates on the sockeye and salmon returns headed to British Columbia and Washington waters.

In the latest news release, the purse seine test fishing catches of pinks had increased in recent days as of Aug. 23 in a location commonly referred to as “Area 20.”

Catches have shown that almost half of the pinks were of Fraser River origin, and the panel approved a run-size estimate of 10-million for the Fraser River pink return compared to a preseason forecast of more than 8.9-million. No inseason updates are made for Puget Sound pink stocks but the forecast calls for more than 6.2-million.

Gig Harbor ramp – July 29: 18 boats with 28 anglers caught two pinks; July 31: 12 boats with 24 anglers caught one chinook and five pinks; Aug. 4: Five boats with nine anglers caught one chinook and two pinks.

The Chinook mark-selective recreational fishery is now closed. The fishery operated under a coastwide quota of 8,000 marked Chinook. A total of 8,358 anglers participated in the fishery, and 2,798 Chinook were landed (35% of the quota).

All-Salmon Species Fisheries

The Columbia Ocean Area opened for all salmon species on June 22; the Westport Area opened for all salmon species on June 23. The La Push and Neah Bay Areas opened for all salmon species on June 29. Catch details for each of the areas are described below.

ILWACO

A total of 1,854 anglers participated in the all-species salmon fishery during the week ending July 28, landing 467 Chinook and 1,927 coho. No pink were landed. Through Sunday, July 28, a cumulative total of 3,059 Chinook (31% of the area guideline) and 8,432 coho (23% of the area sub-quota) have been landed.

WESTPORT

A total of 2,406 anglers participated in the all-species salmon fishery during the week ending July 28, landing 1,541 Chinook, 910 coho, and 308 pink. Through Sunday, July 28, a cumulative total of 3,910 Chinook (17% of the area guideline) and 3,475 coho (13% of the area sub-quota) have been landed.

LA PUSH

A total of 194 anglers participated in the all-species salmon fishery during the week ending July 28, landing 263 Chinook, 87 coho, and 49 pink. Through Sunday, July 28, a cumulative total of 758 Chinook (46% of the area guideline) and 495 coho (26% of the area sub-quota) have been landed.

NEAH BAY

A total of 1,572 anglers participated in the all-species salmon fishery during the week ending July 28, landing 565 Chinook, 556 coho, and 966 pink. Through Sunday, July 28, a cumulative total of 3,605 Chinook (74% of the area guideline) and 3,316 coho (43% of the area sub-quota) have been landed.

Skokomish River opens for salmon fishing Aug. 3rd under new rules, increased enforcement.

OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) enforcement officers will be increasing resource-protection patrols on the Skokomish River, where recreational salmon fishing opens Aug. 1 under several new regulations.

“Anglers should read the regulation pamphlet carefully before heading out to fish the Skokomish River, because there are several changes this year and our officers will be strictly enforcing all the rules,” said Mike Cenci, WDFW’s deputy chief of enforcement.

The daily bag limit has been increased this year from one to two salmon for anglers fishing from the mouth of the river to the Highway 101 Bridge through Sept. 30. However, a new rule in effect this year requires anglers to carefully release any wild chinook salmon they catch. As in previous years, anglers must release chum salmon through Oct. 15.

The recreational fishery was converted to a mark-selective fishery for hatchery chinook salmon – which are marked with a missing adipose fin – to help meet conservation goals for wild chinook salmon returning to the Skokomish River, said Thom Johnson, district fish biologist for WDFW.

Another change this year is that recreational fishing will be closed from the Highway 106 Bridge upstream to the Highway 101 Bridge on six Mondays to avoid potential gear conflicts with treaty tribal fishers, said Johnson. Those closures are scheduled for Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and Sept. 13. Recreational fishing downstream of the Highway 106 Bridge will remain open seven days a week through the fishing season.

Anglers fishing the Skokomish River also will be required to release any salmon not hooked inside the mouth and retain the first two legal salmon they catch. In addition, single-point barbless hooks are required and a night closure and anti-snagging rule will be in effect.

Anglers are expected to not only follow the fishing regulations, but also to properly dispose of trash and human waste, said Johnson.

Last year, WDFW warned Skokomish River anglers that the fishing season could be closed after an accumulation of trash and human waste created potential health and water quality problems. A cooperative clean-up effort by WDFW employees, anglers and Hunter Farms – a private landowner – helped to avert a closure by increasing the number of portable toilets and trash receptacles in the area and removing human waste and trash from the banks of the river.

Before the fishery opens this year, WDFW will increase the number of dumpsters and portable toilets along the river, and post signs asking anglers for their assistance in keeping the area clean.

“Our goal is to conduct an orderly and sustainable fishery on the Skokomish River,” said Johnson. “That can only happen if anglers follow the rules and do their part to keep the river clean and safe.”

Recreational salmon fishing on the Puyallup River from the City of Puyallup outfall structure across the river from the junction of Freeman Road and North Levee Road upstream to the mouth of the White River is open on the following dates:

Recreational salmon fishing on the Puyallup River from the 11th Street Bridge upstream to the City of Puyallup outfall structure across the river from the junction of Freeman Road and North Levee Road, will be open on the following dates:

In all areas, anglers will have a daily limit of six salmon (minimum size 12 inches). Anglers may keep up to four adult salmon, of which only two may be any combination of chinook, coho and chum. All wild adult chinook salmon must be released.

Port Orchard ramp — July 15: Five boats with 10 anglers caught no fish; July 16: Three boats with three anglers caught no fish; July 18: Four boats with eight anglers caught one coho; July 21: Two boats with three anglers caught no fish.

Blaine ramp — July 19: Three boats with six anglers caught no fish; July 20: Two boats with seven anglers caught one kelp greenling and three lingcod; July 21: Three boats with six anglers caught eight pinks and two lingcod.

Swinomish Channel ramp — July 20: Eight boats with 21 anglers caught two chinook and five pinks; July 21: Six boats with 14 anglers caught two chinook and one pink.

Cornet Bay ramp, North Whidbey Island — July 15: Six boats with 14 anglers caught 12 pinks; July 19: Three boats with five anglers caught two pinks; July 20: 11 boats with 28 anglers caught one chinook and 18 pinks; July 21: Four boats with nine anglers caught no fish.

Narrows Marina and ramp — July 15: Five boats with 10 anglers caught no fish; July 18: Five boats with eight anglers caught one chinook; July 21: 11 boats with 25 anglers caught one chinook and six flounder.
Gig Harbor ramp — July 21: Five boats with seven anglers caught no fish.

Columbia River in The Dalles Pool — July 15-21: Three bank anglers released 20 sturgeon; five boats with nine anglers released 53 sturgeon; 14 bank anglers released one wild steelhead; two boats with four anglers caught two walleye and released four; two boats with four anglers released 50 bass.

The Pinks are Coming!
“It is wall-to-wall pinks and lots of silvers up at Neah Bay, and it hard to get your line down to catch a chinook because you’ll end up nailing a pink or coho,”. “In no time the rest of the Strait will get inundated with pinks.”

Just east off Sekiu, the hatchery king fishing has been just fair at best, but there are increasing numbers of pinks and coho.

“Most of the boats at Sekiu are hanging in close to shore looking for kings, and the pinks are being caught further offshore,”. “I’m sure if they ventured father out they’d get into a lot of pinks. Some of the pinks I’ve seen at Port Angeles are decent size in the 5 pound range.” said Larry Bennett, the head state Fish and Wildlife fish checker in the Strait. “We had over 200 pinks checked at Port Angeles and they are catching them right along the shore.”

Manchester ramp — July 8: Five boats with 10 anglers caught four flounder.

Port Orchard ramp — July 8: One boat with three anglers caught no fish; July 12: One boat with two anglers caught no fish.

Glenn Street ramp, Bellingham — July 8: Four boats with 12 anglers caught one chinook; July 12: Two boats with six anglers caught one chinook; July 13: 34 boats with 88 anglers caught 36 chinook and nine pinks; July 14: 26 boats with 79 anglers caught 45 chinook, one coho and one pink.

Port Angeles West ramp — July 9: Three boats with six anglers caught four chinook and three pinks; July 12: 19 boats with 40 anglers caught 14 chinook, five coho and 47 pinks; July 14: 33 boats with 75 anglers caught 23 chinook, two coho and 61 pinks.

John Wayne Marine, Sequim — July 12: Two boats with six anglers caught three chinook.

Port Townsend Boat Haven Marina — July 8: One boat with two anglers caught no fishl July 9: Two boats with six anglers caught no fish; July 13: Five boats with 10 anglers caught three kelp greenling; July 14: Four boats with nine anglers caught one chinook.